Clasp



Oct. 9, 1923. 1 1,470,471

F. PETERS ET AL CLASP Filed Jan. 18 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS'. z e flack 62 5 735 M zazzz 7 wage BY {,1 MMHR'M ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1923.

F. PETERS ET AL CLASP 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 18. 1925 7 meme a. '9, 1923.

J S v PATENT OFFICE.v

FREDERICK PETERS; OF NEWARK, AND WILLIAM THIEDGE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW

. JERSEY.

- CLASP.

Application Med January 18, 1923. Serial No. 613,441.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK PETERS and WILLIAM THIEDGE, citizens of the United States, the former residing at Newark and the latter at Elizabeth, in the counties of Essex and Union, respectively, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps; and we do hereby declare the followmg to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art' to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, enerally, to 1mprovements in clasps; an the present 1nvention has reference, more particularly, to that class of-clasps or fasteners which are designed for use in connection w1th trousers which are held about the Waist or body of the .wearer by means of a belt, but which may also be used as scarf or tie-holders, collar-retainers, cuff-holders, and sleeveholders, and to such other uses where the employment of a holding-clasp is practlcal.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide a novel clasp, w1th a view of producing a neat and ornamental clasp, as well as simplifying its general construction and cheapening the cost of the manufacture of the same, and at the same time providing a strong and efliciently op- 5 crating construction.

The invenion has for its further object to provide a clasp-construction comprising a air of pivotally connected members, termed hereinafter the upper and lower clamping 40 members, the clamping ortions of which are made with outward y-pressed bridgepieces, normally in nested or registering relation with each other, and the lower clamping member of which is provided with a resilient clamping or presser-element adapted to be snapped vinto frictional engagement with the marginal boundary of an opening in the upper clamping member, so that the her, thereby providing a ositive means for clamping and holding t e fabric between the said upper and lower clamping members against accidental displacement from between the said bridgepieces.-

A further object of the present invention is to struction in which the parts of the clasp when in their clamped relation to the garment, lie fiat and close to the material, thus fully eliminating a bulky or clumsy claspprovide an easily operated clasp-con connection with thefabric or material; and,

vention in view, the said invention consists,

marginal edge-portion of the said resilient 5a clamping or presser-element will enter into the receiving space directly beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clamping memprimarily, in themovel clasp hereinafter set forth; and, the said invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said arts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to and which form an essential part ofthe said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are views of the clasp I embodying the principles of the present inv vention, Figure 1 showing the use of the clasp as a trouser-support, and Figure 2 illustrating the clasp in its use as a shirtsleeve holder.

Figure 3 is a front face view, on an enlarged scale, of the clasp represented in said Figure 1, said view showing a fragmentary portion of the waist-band of a garment and a portion of the wearers shirt, with both of which the device is used as a garment-supporter; and Figure 4 is a vertical sectional representation of the several devices and parts represented in said Figure 3, said section being taken on line 1 1 in said Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear face view of the clasp shown detached from the waist-band of the garment and from the shirt; and Figure 6 is a vertical sectional representation of the same, said section being taken on line 6-6 in said Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional representation of the clasp, said section being represented as being taken on line 7-7 in said Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a reverse face View of the lower clamping member from that of the same member represented in said Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a front face view of a pair of clasps made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, the two clasps being connected by' a piece of webbing, or the like, to adapt the device to the sleeve of a shirt, as a sleeve-holder; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional representation of the devices and parts represented in said Figure 9, said section being taken on line 10-10 in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a rear face view of one of the clasps, and a portion of the webbing attached thereto, shown in said Figures 9 and 10.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a complete clasp, showing one embodiment of the principles of the present invention, the same comprising an upper clamping member 2 and a lower clamping member 3, both of which may be of any desired marginal configuration, as will be clearly evident. The said clamping member 2 is made with a pivot-plate or element, as 4, with which is connected a suitably formed fingerpiece 5. Similarly, the clamping member 3 is made with a pivot-plate or element, as 6, which terminates in an extension, as 7, and which provides the other finger or thumb-piece of the clasp. As shown, these pivot-plates 4 and 6 are respectively provided with marginal pivot-ears or pintle-receiving lugs 8 and 9 in registration with each other, the respective ears or lugs being connected by means of the usual pintle 10 and the usual actuating-spring 11 encircling the same, and for the purpose of providing the normal clamping movement of the said clamping members 2 and 3 toward each other, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings. As

shown, the outer clamping member 2 is formed with an outwardly pressed portion, said portion providing a bridge-piece 12, be-

neath which is a receiving space 13 bounded by the out portions 14: and 15 and the connecting end-walls 16, between the bridgepiece 12 and the body of the clamping menr her 2, substantially as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing. Similarly, the lower clamping member is also formed with a pressed-out portion, providing a second bridge-piece 17, adapted to normally project into the above-mentioned receiving space 13.

As shown in said Figure 6, and more parjticularly in Figures 5 and 8; of the drawings, the width of the said bridgepiece 17 is less than that of the bridge-piece 12, so that the said clamping member 3 will be provided with a laterally extending opening 18, substantially as shown. ecured to the back of the said bridge-piece 17, along the metal portion lying directly above the said opening 18, by means of rivets 19, or in any other manner, is a plate or bar 20 formed along one of its longitudinally extending marginal edges With a forwardly extending member 21, which is preferably curved, as at 22, said member projecting into the opening 18 and in frictional engagement with the previously-mentioned edge-portion 14 of the clamping member 2, substantially as shown in said Figure 6 of the drawings, the said member 21 acting in the manner of a resilient or yieldable spring-tongue, adapted to be snapped past the said edgeportion 14, when the two clamping members 2 and 3 are brought into their closed relation by the action of the spring 11, as will be clearly understood.

-When the clasp is to be used as a means for holding up a pair of trousers, or other garment, the previously mentioned extension 8 of the lower clamping member 3 is provided along its marginal edges with grasping or clamping elements, as 23, by means of which the free ends 25 of an elastic cord 24, or the like, are secured to said extension 7, the said cord being looped, so

as to provide an eye 26, which is adapted to be placed about the usual button 27 with which 'the waistband 28 of the garment is usually provided. This having been accomplished, the hinged or pivotally connected clamping members 2 and 3 are brought into their separated or opened relation, by the application of pressure upon the two fingerpieces 5 and 7, whereby the bridge-member 17 is withdrawn from the space 13 beneath the bridge-piece 12, as will be clearly evident. The shirt of the wearer is thereupon bunched, as at 29, see Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, said bunched portion of the shirt thereupon being placed between the separated or opened clamping members 2 and 3. By then closing these members upon said inserted portion 29 of theshirt, the registering bridge-pieces 12 and 17, as well as the binding action exerted by the restruction herein-above described are at-' tached to the ends of a suitable webbing 30,

or the like, the clasps being used in the nlilanner previously set forth, for grasping t e be 0 early understood from an inspection ,of said Figures 2, .9 and 10 of the drawings.

e are aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combina tions of the several parts of the device without departin from the scope of the present invention. fience we do not limit our invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts as. herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings; nor do we confine ourselves to the exact details of the construction ofthe said parts. p

Having thus described our inventlon, what we claim is 1. A clasp comprising a pair of hinged and spring-controlledclampin 1 members, each member being provided w1th an open portion and an outwardl extending brid eiece located .above sai open portion, time ridge-piece of one .of said clamping members being adapted to enter into a receiving space located directly beneath the bridgepiece of the other clamping member.

2. A clasp comprising apair of hinged and spring-controlled clamping members, each member being provided w1th an 0 en portion and an outwardl extending bri geiece located above sai bers being. adapted to enter into a receiving space located directly beneath thebride-- bers for separating said clamping members,

said upper clam ing member being provided with an opening and with an outwardly portions 31- and 32 of the sleeve, as will open portion, the ridge-piece of one of said clamping mem-' extending bridge-piece located above said open ortion, said lower clamping memberbeing ikewise provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending brid e-piece located above said opening, sai latter bridge-piece being adapted to enter into a gridge-piece of said upper clamping mem-' 4. A clasp comprising an upper clamping 7 member and a lower clamping member, a

receiving space located directly beneath the means of pivotalconnection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcmg said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members i for separating said clamping members said upper clamping member being provlded with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said open portion, said lower clamping member being likewise provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said opening, said-latter bridge-piece being adapted to enter into areceiving space located directly beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clampin member, the width of the bridge-piece of t e lower clamping member being less than the width of the brid epiece of the upper clamping member, an a yieldable spring-member, connected with said lower clamping member and extending upwardly past the brid -piece of said lower clamping member an into the receiving space beneath the bridge-piece of the upper clamping member.

"5. A clasp comprising an upper clamping member and a lower clampin member, a means of pivotal connection clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper. clamping member being provided with an opening and with an outwardly-extendingbridge-piece located above said open poroutwardly extending bridge-piece located above said opening, said latter bridge-piece etween said being adapted to enter into areceiving space.

located directly beneath the bridge-pleceof said upper clampin member, the width of the bridge-piece of the lower clamping meme ber being less than the width of the bridge piece of the upper clam ing member, and

a yieldable' spring-mam er comprising a plate mounted upon the back of said lower clamping member, said plate. having a forwardly extending member provided along its marginal edge with a curved portion, saidforwardly extending member and curved edge-portion rojectin into-the receiving space beneat the brldge piece of said upper clamping member, and normally being in frictional contact with one of the marginal edge-portions bounding the opening in said upper clamping member.

6. A clasp comprising an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member, a means of pivotal connection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper clamping member being pro-- vided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said open portion, said lower clamping member being likewise provided with an opening and with an outwardly extend-v ing bridge-piece located above said, opening, said latter bridge-piece being adapted to enter into a receiving space located directly beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clamping member, combined with an elastic cord formed with a button-receiving loop, and means connected with said lower clamping member for securing the free end.

portions of saidelastic cord to said lower clamping member.

7. A clasp comprising an upper clamping member-and a lower clamping member, a means of pivotal connection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper clamping member being provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said open portion, said lower clamping member being likewise provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridgepiece located above said opening, said latter bridge-piece being adapted to enter into a receiving space located directly beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clamping member, the width of the bridge-piece of the lower clamping member being less than the width of the bridge-piece of the upper clamping member, and a gieldable springmember connected with sai lower clamping member and extending upwardly past the bridge-piece of said lower clamping member and into the receiving space beneath the bridge-piece of the upper clamping member, combined with an elastic cord.

' formed with a button-receiving loop, and

means connected with said lower clamping member for securing the free end-portions of said elastic cord to said lower clamping member.

8. A clasp comprising an upper clampng member and a lower clamping member, a means of pivotal connection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper clamping member being provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said open portion, said lower clamping member being likewise provided with an opening and with an outwardly extending bridge-piece located above said opening, said latter bridge-piece being adapted to enter into a receivingspace located directly beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clamping member, the width of the bridgepiece of the lower clamping member being less than the width of the bridge-piece of the upper clamping member, and a yieldable spring-member, comprising a plate mounted upon the back of said lower clamping memher, said plate having a forwardly extending member provided along its marginal edge with a curved portion, said forwardly extending member and curved edge-portion projecting into the receiving space beneath the bridge-piece of said upper clamping member, and normally being in frictional contact with one of the marginal edgeportions bounding the opening in said upper clamping member, combined with an elastic cord formed with a button-receiving loop, and means connected with said lower clamping member for securing the free endportions of said elastic cord to said lower clamping member.

9. A clasp comprising an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member, a means of pivotal connection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper clamping member being provided with an opening, and a yieldable springmember connected with said lower clamping member and extending upwardly into the opening in said upper clamping memher into frictional contact with one of the marginal edge-portions bounding the opening in said upperclamping member.

10. A clasp comprising an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member, a means of pivotal connection between said clamping members, a spring for normally forcing said clamping members in clamping engagement, finger-pieces connected with and extending from said clamping members for separating said clamping members, said upper clamping member being provided with an opening, and a yieldable springmember, comprising a plate mounted u on the back of said lower clamping mem er, said plate having a forwardly extending member provided along its marginal edge with' a curved portion, said upwardly exset forth above we have hereunto set our tending member and curved edge-portion hands this 10th day of January, 1923. projecting into the opening in said upper clamping member into frictional contact FREDERICK PETERS. with one of the marginal edge-portions WILLIAM THIEDGE. 5 bounding the opening in said upper clamp Witnesses:

ing member. Gnoaen ALBERT ADAMS,

n testimony, that we claim the invention WILLIAM VAN NATIA. 

